Protective apron for poster structure



April 20, 1937. J US|K 2,078,126

PROTECTIVE-APRON FOR POSTER STRUCTURE Filed June 20, 1936 Patented Apr. Ztl, 1937' Alden J. Cnsick, Mount Vernon, hi3! assignor to General Outdoor Advertising Co Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application June. 20, 1936, Serial No. 86,430

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a protective device for the bottom molding of a bill-board structure.

A close study of a number of poster structures whichhave been in use for several years shows 5 that the top and side molding looks fresh long after the bottom molding turns dusty and black. This necessitates repainting the entire structure more frequently than should necessary and even during the interim the structures do not look as fresh as they should. This is caused by a paste film which was evenly distributed overv the bottom molding, but during the drying process attracted. dust, became dull, and finally black as compared with the top and side moldings. In some cases this unsightly appearance was aggravated because paste drippings build upa very uneven surface which 'even when dry tends to collect additional dirt.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive portable apron which may be attached to the molding while the poster is being pasted. The apron is designed to enclose the top and front face of the bottom molding so that the molding will not become smeared up with paste, water, paper, or

the like.

Preferably the apron is m de up in several identical sections so that it may be consolidated into a small bundle provided with an attaching strap. In the case of a bill-board of a size frequently constructed, of standard dimensions, four such sections are required and will insure sections of a length convenient to carry.

The invention is illustrated in the preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a sign board with the protective apron attached to its bottom molding; Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one of the apron sections; Fig. 3, a broken vertical sectional view taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig 4, an end elevational view showing how the sections may be nested for transport; and Fig. 5, a broken vertical sectional view showing a modified form of the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-4, A designates a bill-board poster structure provided with a bottom molding A; B, a protective apron 50 formed of the sections B; and C, a carrying device for facilitating transport of the sections.

The poster structure A may be of any suitable construction and is shown with a rectangular face 6 provided with a suitable top and side molding 1. The structure is shown supported on legs 8 and is provided with an ornamental latticework 9.

The base molding A may be of any suitable construction, but preferably is mounted so that its top edge portion it is spaced with respect to the face 6. In adapting structures already built to the present invention, the upper edge of the molding may be pried away and a number of small wedges 'H inserted at intervals as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. i

The apron B may be made in as many sections as desired and preferably is formed of 28-gauge galvanized iron. For the usual size bill-boards four sections are sufficient. The sections B have their top edge portions bent rearwardly and downwardly as indicated at 53 to provide a hook enclosing the edge to of the molding. Both free edges are crimped double thickness to give rigidity and prevent bending. Bill-boards are commonly provided with a base flange l4 and preferably the lower ends of the apron sections are bent rearwardly as indicated at E5 to form a clip which may snap around, said flange and insure the apron from coming loose in a high wind;

' In installing the device the first section is snapped in position and then the next section is installed, preferably with a 3-inch overlap. Following this procedure as many sections as necessary may be installed.

As the sections are made of thin material and are somewhat resilient, they permit the said overlap and are held snugly in position.

To remove the apron the procedure is reversed, i. e., the sections are removed one at a time and may then be nested, as indicated in Fig. 4. To render the device ready to carry, as shown in said figure, each of the sections is provided with a pair of apertures IE whereby said sections may receive eye-hooks. IT. A carrier strap C connects the hooks and may be used by the work men in carrying the sections to and from the sign board or up a ladder, where the sign is considerably elevated.

The device is so simple that careful time studies show that an average crew can attach the apron in seconds and remove, nest, and connect the sections ready to carry in seconds. Thus it will be seen that less than a minute is required for the combined operations and more than this amount of time is saved in swabbing 01f the metal apron rather than the molding, assuming that the latter is cleaned reasonably well.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the billboard 19 has a molding 20 whose upper rear edge may be beveled, as indicated at 2 I, to receive the bent upper flange of the metal apron 22, which may be the same apron shown in Fig. 3. The lower flange of the apron 22 may be slid under the base flange or ledge 23, in the same manner as in Fig. 3, or the underside of said ledge may have a bead 24 thereon over which the groove 25 of the flange may snap. The base or ledge 23 is at right angles to the main panel of the billboard, and the molding 20, fitting in the angle formed between the two comprises an ornamental filler member over which the apron may be hooked, in both forms of said molding shown in Figs. 3 and 5. However, the apron need not be supported from above but may be supported from below. For example, instead of bending down the upper margin of the apron 22, the same may continue in a smooth curve to engage the face of the billboard, where the lower end of the apron is formed as shown in Fig. 5. That is, said lower end not only has the groove 25 tosnap over the bead (or alternatively into a recess in the bottom of the ledge or plank 23) but it is bent at 26 substantially at right angles, thereby forming in efiect a channel member the opposite sides of which frictionally clamp the ledge 23 above and below to hold the apron in place with or without the bead. With this arrangement the apron is simply pressed over the ledge in installing it, there being nothing to hook over the molding, and the upper edge of the apron is yieldingly held against the vertical surface behind it, with no appreciable gap or crack between the two.

Various other ways of attaching the lower flange of the apron to the ledge are feasible.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and

no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of 4b the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination: a poster structure'comprising a bill-board provided at its lower edge portion with a forwardly extending molding, the upper 5; margin of which is spaced-from said bill-board to provide a clearance; and a water-proof protective apron adapted to enclose the top and front face of said molding, said apron having downwardly extending means near its upper margin to extend into said clearance space for detachably securing the said apron to the molding during a pasting operation.

2. In combination: a poster structure compris-\ ing a bill-board and a base molding, the upper edge portion of said molding being backed ofi from the adjacent portion of the bill-board to which it is removably secured{ and a-metallic protective apron enclosing the top and front face of said base molding and having its top edge portion bent rearwardly and downwardly in the slot between said bill-board and molding, whereby the apron is detachably secured in position.

3. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the apron is in the form of a clip having its lower edge portion bent rearwardly, forming a resilient attaching flange engaged beneath the molding.

4. A protective apron for the purpose set forth comprising a plurality of metallic housing members, each of said members being provided at its upper edge portion with a hook-shaped flange for suspending the member from the upper portion of a bill-board base-molding, and at its lower edge portion with a rearwardly extending flange adapted to removably secure said member in position, said flanges being sufficiently resilient to permit the housing members to engage the top and bottom of a molding in partially overlapped relation, whereby said apron may be installed and removed quickly.

5. A protective apron for the lower part of a bill-board having a projecting ledge and a filler member positioned in the angle formed between said ledge and bill-board, comprising a thin member having a channel to fit over and detachably grip opposite sides of said ledge and extending therefrom over said filler member to engage said bill-board and thereby conceal said filler member and ledge and protect the same during the pasting operation. 7

ALDEN J. CUSICK. 

